GLASGOW City Council has been urged to cut its energy use after a report shows it has the highest usage of any Scottish local authority.

An Audit Scotland report showed the council was responsible for 8% of all public sector energy use, along with the health board and Scottish Water.

It said the city had the highest usage of all Scotland's councils, with a rate double that of Edinburgh.

Now city MSP James Dornan says the council needs to take greater action to reduce usage to help climate change targets.

Mr Dornan, SNP MSP for Cathcart, raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament.

He said: "This report is a scandalous indictment on Glasgow City Council and I hope steps have been taken to show a considerable improvement in its energy consumption rates.

"Being responsible for 8% of all energy consumption across the public sector gives Glasgow City Council the worst record of any local authority in Scotland, and I'm sure the people of Glasgow will be expecting the council to take serious and timeous action.

"Scotland has set the most ambitious climate change targets in Europe, but we won't meet them if local authorities are not willing to contribute seriously.

"It's time for Glasgow to play its part in helping Scotland to meet these important targets and take urgent action."

The energy use for Fife Council was 4% while Aberdeen was 3%.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board and Scottish Water also had a rate of 8%, while Edinburgh City Council was 4% and Aberdeen City Council on 3%

In its recommendations Audit Scotland said: "The Scottish Government should ensure efforts and investment for improving energy efficiency are targeted where the greatest reductions in energy use and emissions can be made for the whole public sector.

"Public bodies should strengthen the contribution they make to reducing emissions and increase the pace of change."

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "Our energy consumption reflects our size; we are considerably larger than any other local authority.

"However, we are already progressing with a whole range of projects - from office rationalisation to installing smart meters – to meet national reduction targets in 2020 and 2050."

stewart.paterson@ heraldandtimes.co.uk